Easy Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe

Baked mac and cheese might just be my ultimate comfort food. We’re not talking about the yellow stuff from the box here – I mean hearty, melty, mac and cheese for adults.

What is a Baked Mac and Cheese?

There are basically two ways to make mac and cheese: on a stovetop or in an oven. Baked mac and cheese comes from the oven. Baking the dish gives it the ability to develop more flavors and textures due to the high and dry heat browning and crisping up the dish.

Our Approach to Baked Mac and Cheese

With the exception of the noodles, we are going to want to make everything else in one pan. Mac and cheese is a great study in developing flavors because of this approach and will teach you what and how to build and layer flavors on top of one another towards a final dish.

What Makes a Good Mac and Cheese?

I think baked mac and cheese should have some complexity to it. In reality, it is a casserole, and a rich one at that. So to balance our dish, we are going to want high notes of acidity and sweet notes to balance the salt.

Balancing the Dish

To help balance our mac and cheese we are going to make some quick pickled onions. Did I just lose you? Sounds weird, I know. In properly calling them by name, yes they are pickled.

In reality though, they are just caramelized onions with apple cider vinegar, giving them acidity and complexity (not just sweetness). This one ingredient alone is a major differentiator between mundane and gourmet macaroni and cheese.

Developing Flavors

Two big favorites I often love throwing into my mac and cheese are sun dried tomatoes and panko bread crumbs. The tomatoes help keep with the sweet and acidic flavor contrast, and bread crumbs add a crispy texture on top.

Tools Required

To make this baked mac and cheese in the oven, you’ll need these tools:

1 large pot for boiling the noodles

1 oven safe pan (cast iron or stainless steel)

1 microwaveable mug or bowl for making the roux

Cutting board

Chef’s knife

Easy Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese

Yield: 8-10 Servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour10 minutes

Ingredients

1 pound macaroni pasta

1/4 lb bacon

1/2 onion

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon flour

1 cup milk

2 cups shredded melting cheese

1/2 cup Parmesan

2 jalapenos

Instructions

Bring a pot of water to a boil add 1 tablespoon salt to it

Add 1 box macaroni and boil until al dente (around 10-12 minutes)

Slice onions, dice jalapenos, and cut bacon into 1/4 inch pieces

Cook bacon on medium high until crisp (about 10 minutes) and set aside

In the same pan your bacon was in, add the onions, sugar, and vinegar, and caramelize them

Once onions are caramelized, add jalapenos

Remove onions and jalapenos from pan and set aside

Turn heat down to medium

Preheat oven to 350°F

Microwave butter for 30 seconds and mix in flour to make a roux, and then add roux to pan

Add milk, stirring constantly

Once roux has bloomed, add Parmesan and stir to combine

Turn heat off and fold macaroni into the pan, coating all pieces

Add onion, pepper, bacon mix, and half the cheese, folding together to incorporate